HTC Elevate VIP outreach opens for Windows Phone owners

HTC has opened its Elevate VIP community of device owners up to Windows Phone users, inviting those with HTC Windows Phones to apply for membership to the advocacy and development program. Launched earlier this year, HTC Elevate has until now worked primarily with Android owners - members got prior access to previews of Ice Cream Sandwich updates back in February - but HTC is now accepting applications from those using the company's other mobile platform of choice.

Ninety users will be accepted, according to HTC, still a minority in comparison to Android users in the program, which are believed to number somewhere between 500 and 1,000. HTC uses its audience to test new functionality and survey potential new features.

"We're offering an opportunity for you to collaborate directly with the team at HTC to help with innovation, feedback, advocacy, marketing and quality" the company says of the Elevate program. "We consider our community members an important part of the creative team, so your opinions and feedback will help shape the future of HTC products and services."

The new Windows Phone admissions are likely to be timed with HTC's Windows Phone 8 development, though the company was conspicuous by its absence from the initial line-up of OEMs expected to release devices running the new OS. Membership is by application, and not everybody who applies will be accepted into the program.